Vehicular map database management techniques

Abstract

Method and arrangement for providing map information to an operator of a vehicle includes forming a map database to reside on the vehicle, e.g., after installation on the vehicle, and which includes for example, data about lanes that the vehicle can travel on locations of a boundary or edges of the travel lanes, data about traffic control devices in the database, data about guard rails along travel lanes and/or data about inanimate objects such as poles and trees alongside the travel lanes. The database is managed to ensure that it has current information about a travel lane on which the vehicle is currently situated. This may entail establishing wireless communications to the vehicle to enable data to be provided to the database, e.g., from other vehicles and/or from infrastructure.

1. A method for providing map information to a vehicle to enable an occupant of the vehicle to access the map information, comprising:
 forming a database including map data about roadways that the vehicle can travel on, the data including a speed limit for the vehicle in the roadways, the database being formed using a processor, the database including a plurality of map database segments, each of the plurality of map database segments having an associated date and time; 
 installing the database on the vehicle; 
 managing the database to ensure that the database has current data about a roadway on which the vehicle is currently situated or approaching; and 
 displaying on a heads-up or other display visible to an occupant of the vehicle, data from the database to the occupant of the vehicle including
 a map derived from the map data from the database of an area around the vehicle, and 
 the speed limit for the roadway on which the vehicle is travelling, 
 
 the step of managing the database comprising:
 establishing wireless communications to the vehicle to enable data to be provided to the database, the database being managed using a processor; 
 transmitting from the vehicle, requests to infrastructure to enable ascertaining whether the database has current map data for the roadway on which the vehicle is currently situated or is planning on travelling, the step of ascertaining whether the database has current map data comprising:
 obtaining, in response to the transmission of each request to infrastructure, a latest date and time of each segment of the map database to that portion of earth covered by the map database segment; 
 comparing, using a processor on the vehicle, the associated date and time of each map database segment contained in the database with the obtained latest date and time of that same map database segment to determine whether the map database segment in the database in the vehicle has a date and time equal to or later than the obtained latest date and time; and only if not, 
 using vehicle-to-vehicle communication, infrastructure-to-vehicle communication, Internet communication or a communications system in the vehicle to obtain the data for the map database segment associated with the latest date and time; and then 
 
 including the obtained data for the map segment in the database with the latest date and time as a substitution for a corresponding map database segment previously included in the database and associating the latest date and time with the newly included map database segment in the database. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of ascertaining whether the database has current map data further comprises:
 broadcasting from infrastructure separate and apart from the vehicle, the latest date and time of each segment of the map database to that portion of earth covered by the map database segment; 
 the date and time of each map database segment being compared using the processor on the vehicle, when the vehicle is approaching or enters the map database segment and without receiving the map database segment in its entirety, with the broadcast latest date and time of that same map database segment from the infrastructure to determine whether the map database segment in the database in the vehicle is the latest database segment. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 directing map data to the vehicle for a section to be traveled by the vehicle to be included in the database from infrastructure as the vehicle passes by the infrastructure in advance of the section to be traveled; and then 
 including the received map data in the database on the vehicle. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 limiting the database to map data within a predetermined distance from the vehicle such that only map data within the predetermined distance from the vehicle is included in the database; and 
 providing additional map data to the database for areas of earth for map data that is not included in the database via a wireless communication to the vehicle only as the vehicle travels toward the area of earth for which map data is not included in the database. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising forming the database with data based on data acquired using an RTK DGPS system or equivalent having a one standard deviation accuracy of 2 cm. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising including data about traffic control devices in the database and displaying the data about the traffic control devices on the heads-up or other display. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising including in the database, data about guard rails along roadways and/or inanimate objects including at least one of poles and trees alongside the roadways in the database and displaying the data about the guard rails along roadways and/or inanimate objects on the heads-up or other display. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying on the heads-up or other display visible to an occupant of the vehicle, an indication of a location of the vehicle on the map. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of managing the database further comprises:
 generating and transmitting requests using a processor and communications system on the vehicle for current map data for an area to be traveled by the vehicle only when the vehicle approaches that area; 
 after receipt of each request by infrastructure, directing map data to the vehicle for the area to be traveled by the vehicle; and 
 after the map data is received by the vehicle, updating the database on the vehicle. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 ascertaining an assigned corridor of travel for the vehicle on the roadway; 
 determining a current position for the vehicle with position determining equipment located onboard the vehicle; 
 determining that the vehicle has deviated from the assigned corridor of travel; and 
 activating an alert to warn an occupant of the vehicle that the vehicle has deviated from the assigned corridor of travel. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 including in the data in the database, locations of a boundary or edges of the roadways and edges of lanes of the roadways; and 
 displaying on the heads-up or other display visible to an occupant of the vehicle, boundaries or edges of the roadway or lane of the roadway on which the vehicle is travelling. 
 
     
     
       12. A method for providing map data to a vehicle to enable an occupant of the vehicle to access the map data, comprising:
 forming a database including map data about roadways that the vehicle can travel on, the data including a speed limit for the vehicle in the roadways, the database being formed using a processor, the database including a plurality of map database segments, each of the plurality of map database segments having an associated date and time; 
 installing the database on the vehicle; 
 managing the database to ensure that the database has current data about a roadway on which the vehicle is currently situated or approaching; and 
 displaying on a heads-up or other display visible to an occupant of the vehicle, data from the database to the occupant of the vehicle including
 a map derived from the map data from the database of an area around the vehicle, and 
 the speed limit for the roadway on which the vehicle is travelling, 
 
 the step of managing the database comprising:
 generating on and transmitting from the vehicle using a communications system, query requests to enable determination of whether the database has current map data for the roadway on which the vehicle is currently situated or approaching; 
 obtaining, in response to each query request, a latest date and time of each segment of the map database to that portion of earth covered by the map database segment; 
 comparing, using a processor on the vehicle, the associated date and time of each map database segment contained in the database with the obtained latest date and time of that same map database segment to determine whether the map database segment in the database in the vehicle has a date and time equal to or later than the obtained latest date and time; and only if not, 
 using a communications system in the vehicle to obtain from infrastructure separate and apart from the vehicle the data for the map database segment associated with the latest date and time; and 
 including the obtained data for the map segment in the database with the latest date and time as a substitution for a corresponding map database segment previously included in the database and associating the latest date and time with the newly included map database segment in the database. 
 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 broadcasting or communicating from infrastructure separate and apart from the vehicle and in response to each query request, the latest date and time of each segment of the map database to that portion of earth covered by the map database segment; 
 the date and time of each map database segment being compared using the processor on the vehicle, when the vehicle is approaching or enters the map database segment and without receiving the map database segment in its entirety, with the broadcast latest date and time of that same map database segment from the infrastructure to determine whether the map database segment in the database in the vehicle is the latest database segment. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 directing map data to the vehicle for a section to be traveled by the vehicle to be included in the database from infrastructure as the vehicle passes by the infrastructure in advance of the section to be traveled; and then 
 including the received map data in the database on the vehicle. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 limiting the database to map data within a predetermined distance from the vehicle such that only map data within the predetermined distance from the vehicle is included in the database; and 
 providing additional map data to the database for areas of earth for map data is not included in the database via a wireless communication to the vehicle only as the vehicle travels toward the area of earth for which map data is not included in the database. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising including data about guard rails along roadways, and/or data about inanimate objects including at least one of poles and trees alongside the roadways in the database and displaying the data about the guard rails along roadways and/or inanimate objects on the heads-up or other display. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising displaying on the heads-up or other display visible to an occupant of the vehicle, an indication of a location of the vehicle on the map. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising including data about traffic control devices in the database and displaying the data about the traffic control devices on the heads-up or other display. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 including in the data in the database, locations of a boundary or edges of the roadways and edges of lanes of the roadways; and 
 displaying on the heads-up or other display visible to an occupant of the vehicle, boundaries or edges of the roadway or lane of the roadway on which the vehicle is travelling. 
 
     
     
       20. An arrangement for providing map data to a vehicle to enable an occupant of the vehicle to access the map data, comprising:
 a database arranged in the vehicle and including map data about roadways that the vehicle can travel on, the data including a speed limit for the vehicle in the roadways and a plurality of map database segments, each of the plurality of map database segments having an associated date and time; 
 a communications system arranged on the vehicle and arranged to establish communications with infrastructure; 
 a processor coupled to said database and said communications system for managing said database to ensure that said database has current data about a roadway on which the vehicle is currently situated or approaching; and 
 a heads-up or other display in the vehicle arranged in a position visible to an occupant of the vehicle and that displays
 a map derived from the map data from the database of an area around the vehicle, and 
 the speed limit for the roadway on which the vehicle is travelling, 
 
 said processor being arranged to
 generate requests to infrastructure to ascertain whether said database has current map data for the roadway on which the vehicle is currently situated or approaching, 
 cause transmission of the generated requests to infrastructure via said communications system, 
 receive, in response to each transmitted request, time and date information about current map data for the roadway on which the vehicle is currently situated or approaching from infrastructure via said communications system, 
 determine, based on comparison of the received time and date information about the current map data to the date and time of a corresponding map database segment, whether said database has the current map data for the roadway on which the vehicle is currently situated or approaching, and 
 only if not, receive from infrastructure the current map data for the roadway on which the vehicle is currently situated or approaching and include the current map data for the roadway on which the vehicle is currently situated or approaching in said database. 
 
 
     
     
       21. The arrangement of  claim 20 , wherein said database is formed with data based on data acquired using an RTK DGPS system or equivalent having a standard deviation accuracy of 2 cm (1σ). 
     
     
       22. The arrangement of  claim 20 , wherein said database includes data about guard rails along roadways and inanimate objects including at least one of poles and trees alongside the roadways, said heads-up or other display displaying the data about the guard rails along the roadways and inanimate objects. 
     
     
       23. The arrangement of  claim 20 , wherein said display further displays an indication of a location of the vehicle on the map. 
     
     
       24. The arrangement of  claim 20 , wherein said database includes data about locations of a boundary or edges of the roadways and edges of lanes of the roadways, said heads-up or other display in the vehicle displaying boundaries or edges of the roadway or lane of the roadway on which the vehicle is travelling. 
     
     
       25. A method for avoiding accidents involving a vehicle permitted to travel in an assigned corridor of travel, comprising:
 obtaining a database including map data about roadways that the vehicle can travel on, the data including a speed limit for the vehicle in the roadways and traffic control devices; 
 installing the database onboard the vehicle; 
 identifying a roadway or lane of a roadway on which the vehicle is traveling or approaching; 
 displaying on a heads-up or other display onboard the vehicle and visible to the occupant of the vehicle,
 a map including the roadway on which the vehicle is traveling or approaching derived from the map data from the database, and 
 the speed limit for the roadway on which the vehicle is travelling or approaching; 
 
 ascertaining an assigned corridor of travel for the vehicle on the roadway on which the vehicle is traveling or approaching; 
 determining a current position for the vehicle with position determining equipment located onboard the vehicle; 
 determining, using a processor, if the vehicle has deviated from the assigned corridor of travel; and 
 activating an alert to warn an occupant of the vehicle when it has been determined that the vehicle has deviated from the assigned corridor of travel. 
 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 25 , further comprising displaying on the heads-up or other display onboard the vehicle, the current position for the vehicle on the display of the map of the roadway on which the vehicle is traveling or approaching. 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 26 , further comprising displaying on the heads-up or other display onboard the vehicle, the assigned corridor of travel for the vehicle on the display of the map of the roadway on which the vehicle is traveling or approaching. 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 receiving a map update for the roadway on which the vehicle is traveling or approaching via wireless communication from an infrastructure station; 
 updating the map for the roadway on which the vehicle is traveling or approaching in the database onboard the vehicle; and 
 displaying on the heads-up or other display onboard the vehicle, the updated map of the roadway on which the vehicle is traveling or approaching. 
 
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 including in the data in the database, locations of a boundary or edges of the roadways and edges of lanes of the roadways; and 
 displaying on the heads-up or other display visible to an occupant of the vehicle, boundaries or edges of the roadway or lane of the roadway on which the vehicle is travelling. 
 
     
     
       30. A method for avoiding accidents involving a vehicle permitted to travel in an assigned corridor of travel, comprising:
 obtaining a database including map data about roadways that the vehicle can travel on, the data including a speed limit for the vehicle in the roadways and traffic control devices; 
 installing the database in a processor; 
 identifying a roadway or lane of a roadway on which the vehicle is traveling or approaching; 
 displaying on a heads-up or other display onboard the vehicle and visible to the occupant of the vehicle,
 a map including the roadway on which the vehicle is traveling or approaching derived from the map data from the database, and 
 the speed limit for the roadway on which the vehicle is travelling or approaching; 
 
 ascertaining an assigned corridor of travel for the vehicle on the roadway on which the vehicle is traveling or approaching; 
 determining a current position for the vehicle; 
 displaying onboard the vehicle, the current position for the vehicle on the display of the map of the roadway on which the vehicle is traveling or approaching; 
 determining if the vehicle has deviated from the assigned corridor of travel; and 
 activating an alert to warn an occupant of the vehicle when it has been determined that the vehicle has deviated from the assigned corridor of travel. 
 
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 30 , further comprising displaying on the heads-up or other display, onboard the vehicle the assigned corridor of travel for the vehicle on the display of the map of the roadway on which the vehicle is traveling or approaching. 
     
     
       32. The method of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 including in the data in the database, locations of a boundary or edges of the roadways and edges of lanes of the roadways; and 
 displaying on the heads-up or other display visible to an occupant of the vehicle, boundaries or edges of the roadway or lane of the roadway on which the vehicle is travelling.